People, not Parking

Written and Illustrated by Avery Rawlins

I am an illustrator, not an urban planner. This drawing is an exercise in imagination and optimism. 

    I started by replacing asphalt with plants in order to reduce the ambient heat in the summer. In direct sun, asphalt like this can reach temperatures 10 degrees Celsius warmer than the air. Removing a large portion of the black top in the centre of the parking lot and replacing it with a mulched, landscaped area provides shade, which cools the remaining asphalt, and contains a micro climate in which the plants release water vapour, which also cools the surrounding area. Planted areas also damped sound and echoes that otherwise are amplified by sheer, hard surfaces surrounding the lot.

    I chose a Colorado Pinyon Pine, recommended by the Okanagan Xeriscaping Association. This tree is small, growing to a maximum of 20 feet tall. Native to the canyons of the southern Rockies, this plant is accustomed to arid, bright conditions of canyons that are well replicated between these two high rise towers. The Pinyon Pine does not require much water and appreciates direct sun. With minimal care, this tree would provide a beautiful centrepiece to the parking lot that would be evocative of a bonsai tree, dwarfed by the sheer buildings on either side. Additionally, this tree cannot grow tall enough to damage any of the surrounding buildings if it were to come down unexpectedly. 

    The centre piece tree would be planted with native shrubs, which would contribute to the evaporating water that cools the immediate area. The shrubs would also shade the ground throughout the day, and prevent the mulched area from heating to the extreme temperatures that the bare asphalt currently produces. Some examples of appropriate shrubs include Golden Sword Yucca, Juniper, and Adam’s Needle Yucca. Like the Pinyon Pine, these plants are adapted to the bright, arid climate we enjoy in Kelowna, and, after being established, would require minimal watering and maintenance. 

    I also added amenities to the pedestrian plaza so it would be a pleasant place to pass through and spend time as you explore the city on foot. 

    First, I removed the fence at the back left corner of the lot to provide pedestrian and cycling traffic with a thoroughfare to the adjoining lot while avoiding car traffic. This both makes pedestrians and cyclists safer, and has the potential to create a series of connected pedestrian plazas through the interior blocks of Kelowna. 

   This plaza would increase access to green space for those living in the downtown core, and would give people an outdoors, third space to meet friends, wait for appointments or transit, and get some exercise. With this in mind, I included a bike lock up so people would store micro mobility devices while they ran errands inside the businesses, as well as a water bottle filling station for commuters and several trash cans, benches, and street lights so the plaza would be comfortable, well lit, and litter free. 

Finally, just for the sake of creating a space where people would enjoy spending their lunch break, I added a mural to the side of the building to the left of the plaza. I chose a fruit theme as an homage to Kelowna’s orchards, and because they would be colourful and fun against the white panels of the building. 

    The final result of a plaza that is a reprieve from the endless black top of the city streets. We can build a city that prioritizes the people who live within walking distance of this parking lot. I do not want to live in a city that is convenient to drive through, I want to live in a city where I enjoy spending my time. 

This is the lot as it stands in March 2026